Upstate Shelter Closes Due To Homeless Drop

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The city's largest homeless shelter will be shut down because of a drop in the homeless population, Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs and Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Robert V. Hess announced last week.

The closing of Camp LaGuardia, a 1,000-person facility in Orange County operated by the city, comes as 13 percent fewer homeless, or more than 1,000 people, are using city shelters. Mayor Bloomberg has said his goal is to reduce the number of homeless, which is currently 34,428, by two-thirds by 2009.

'Plans Are Working'

"The closing of Camp LaGuardia is a milestone that tells us our plans are working," Ms. Gibbs said at a Nov. 16 press conference held at the Prince George Hotel. "While it is hard to move from the impermanency of long-term homelessness to the stability of a home, today's announcement shows it can be done." According to DHS, the closing will save the city $19 million, including $7.1 million annually transporting LaGuardia residents to and from the city.

The facility was established as a homeless shelter in 1934, and renamed for former Mayor Fiorello La Guardia in 1935. Through the late 1950's, the camp included a farm which was tended to by the residents.